Game-board.



Ng. 739,284. PATBNTBD sEPT.'22, 190s. E. T. BURROWBS.

GAMB BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19, 1902.

NQ MODEL. I 2`SHBETS-SHEET 1.

I' mmmm w @im l No. '739,294,

UNITED STAAT-13s atented September 22, 1903;

L PATENT OFFICE. v

'GAMl-:flso/ktao.

sPEcIFIcATIoN foming part of Letters Patent No. 739,284, dated september 22,1903. Application iiled September 19 1902. Serial llo. 1724.051. (No model.)

in gameboards,and is embodied in the con struction and arrangement of parts presently to be described, and defined in the claims.

- Generally speaking, the invention relates to that type or class of game-boards wherein projectiles or balls are employed, such as in pool and billiard boards,and are distinguished from tables of that characterin that they are portable and readily moved to and from a table or other support.

While the inventionisdesigned more particularly for game-boards, it will .be evident that its usefulVV application can be made to other structures. i

For many years efforts have been made to provide a suitable table orboard for family and domestic use on which billiards and pool could be played and which could be located and used without necessitating the occupa ftion of an entire room. Small tables with stone or slate beds have been made, and it has been suggested .to provide a portable device for placing on a table, suchI device, how-y ever, being constructed with a stone or slate bed, making the same necessarily heavy and necessitating small dimensions. l

In United States Letters Patent No. 659,809,

granted to myself on October 16, 1900, isY

shown a portable pool or billiard board which was designed to meet the requirements of portability, proper proportions, and for family and domestic use; but it was found defective in some respects, in that no provisions were made for preventing warping or distortion of the playing-surface. These defects were practically overcome by the construction shown in my later United States patent, No. 674,729, dated May 21, 1901. From large experience with the improved forms of boards it has been found that the expansion or swelling of the wood of which the bed was made has in some instances had a tendency to distort the side rails, or, if resistance by the rails 'was too great, to'tend to distort the playingsurface. While such defects were incident in some boards, in others the structure shown in my later patent proved eminently satisfactory. 5

The object ofthe present invention is,

liability of the distortion of the rails and the bed, consisting largely in means for preventing the deiection of the side rails by the expansion or swelling of the bed, and thereby maintaining not only the rails, but the bed, in their proper condition.-

' A further object of the invention is the pro vision of improved means for maintaining the proper level or smoothness of the playing-sur face. 1

A further object ot the invention is to provide a direct unyielding connection between the rails at the sides, thereby preventing deflection of the rails'by the impact of the balls rails; further, to add strength to the side rails by avoiding'the necessity of grooving, and finally to provide a structure wherein the edges of the bed can be readily inspected without taking the board apart.

shown a form of board embodyingy the invention and also modifications of certain features. The illustration, however, may be regarded as being for the purpose of this specification to illustrate theinvention and notfor the purpose 'of limitation, as obviously many changes, variations, and modifications can be made without in the least departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

Figure 1 is a cross-section of the board. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig.I 3 is a bottom plan view. Figeis across-section, somewhatenlarged, of a portion of the side modified construction of rail. Figs. Gand 7 are detailed modifications v of connecting means, and Figs. 89, and 10-are preferred forms of connecting/means.

In the preferred form of frame, as shown in Figs.` land 2, the side rails A are formed with fiat inner Yfaces as distinguished from In the accompanying drawings there is however, to overcome as far Vas-possible the at a point substantially the center of the side' rail. Fig. 5 is a detailed viewjshowinga IOS t'vie grooved faces of the construction. shown in my later United States patent. The end rails B, which are lixedly secured or connected with the side rails, are conveniently formed with longitudinal grooves Z7, the grooves being located, as heretofore, at or near the center of the rails. C designates the bed, which is preferably constructed of wood, either in built-up sections or in single piece, as is desired. I have found, however, that when the bed is built up of a series of narrow strips glued together a very satisfactory bed is formed. The transverse width of the bed is less than the distance between the two side rails, While the length of the bed is less than the distance between the bottoms of the grooves in the end rails, thus permitting a slight movement in transverse and longitudinal directions without impedance on the part of the rails. This free movement of the bed is in the present instance regarded as highlyimportant,in that the same is permitted to swell or expand without resistance on the part of the side rails, thus avoiding the otherwise natural tendency to distort not only the rails, but the bed itself. In such construction it is obviously necessary to form a connection between the side rails and the bed and also to provide a suitable support for the bed. This is accomplished in various ways, and, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 3, and 4, the same consists of su pporting girderbars D, which are conveniently formed of steel, having their laps tur-ned at right angles to form a T-head, while their lower or outer edge for strengthening purposes is rounded or bulged. Theserails are largely the same as those shown in my said later patent, but are of greater length. In lieu of the inserting of bars in grooves in the bed I have found it advantageous to attach the bars to the under side of the bed. This may be accomplished in various ways. In the drawings I have shown a means consisting ot' clips (l, which may be made either of metal or wood, screwed or otherwise secured directly to the bed and overlap the branches of the T-head of the bars. This construction permits a free movement of the bed on the barin a lateral direction, but prevents any independent movement of the bed to and from the bar. A further advantage ofthe construction just described is that the bed of a board is of uniform thickness throughout, the same being weakened only at the points where the screws or fastening devices enter. To secure the ends of the bars Dto the side rails, suitable brackets or offsets E are employed, the same being con venien tlyin the form of an arch,each branch of which is offset, so that they may be ixedly secured by screws or otherwise to the rails without interruption, and these brackets are connected to the bars by a suitable screw or bolt e, rigidly attached to the ends of the bars D. It screws are employed with bulged or curved edge,'the bar is interiorly threaded. By this means the brackets are first attached to the bars and then firmly screwed to the rails, thus forming a very positive and rigid connection not only for supporting the table-bed, but also serving to maintain the rails in their proper relative position. In this connection it is to be observed that many forms of attachment between the rails and bars can be resorted to. For instance, as shown in Fig. 6, a small plate E can be employed having a screw-hole in one portion and abolt or screw hole in an opposite direction, one of the screws being inserted in the end of the bar, While the other is inserted in the side rail. In this connection it will be necessary to recess the side rail to accommodate the head of-the screw adjacent thereto. A further modified form is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the bar is carried directly to the side rail, split, and its opposite end portions e2 bent outward, flattened, and perforated to receive the screws e3, entering into the side rails. These modifications are offered as suggestions to emphasize the statement that the invention is not limited to the construction shown. Ordinarily two of-the braces D will be su liicient; butin some cases one may be used or more than two, according to the size of the board and the character of the bed.

In the tables heretofore made, which in length run from five and a half to six feet, it has been found that sudden impact of the balls against the side rail would in some instances have a tendency to cause the side rails to yield at the center notwithstanding the intel-position of the cushion. To avoid this and to add substantial rigidity to the structure without materially adding to its weight, I place a flat bar F across the bottom of the bed, securing the same conveniently at the center by suitable screws or otherwise, and carry the ends of the bar upward for a short distance, as at F, and seat the same in a groove at the center of the rail and there secure it by suitable screws or other means. In the present form of board I have used conveniently a cushion L of desired type, the same extending over the projecting ends of the bar F. The construction and application of the bar F, While being very desirable, is not indispensable. To permit the end portions of the bed to expand and contract and yet retain them in their proper positions, I conveniently place the ends in the grooves Z) and retain the same normally in position by the application of L shaped supports or brackets G, the shorter leg of the bracket being screwed or bolted to the rail, while the longer leg isextended somewhat onto the bottom of the bed and there secured by suitable screws or other means, these connections, there being conveniently one or more at each end, serving to retain the bed in its proper position and against longitudinal movement, but permitting the lateral expansion, as Well as longitudinal expansion, with out any material resistance being oiered,

ICG

' connections While the construction above described is preferred for many reasons and permits of the inspection ot' the side edgesl of the bed, yet the construction shown in Fig. 5 may be employed-that is to say, a side groove c may be made in the side rails and the bed increased in width until the edge thereof is seated in the groove, not, however, occupying the entire groove, but extending only part way in, in a manner similar to that of the ends, then permitting the bed to shrink or swell independent of the rails.

While there are other advantages in having the side edges of the bed free for inspection-such as, for instance, for adjustment and assembling-yet the advantage of having a clearance for expansion is highlyimportant. The spaces between the edge of the bed and the rails are covered by a cushion.

In Figs. 8, 9,'and 10 I have shown a form of connection between the side rails and the supporting bars D which consists, essentially, in a single clip or bracket H., secured to the inner side of the rail by a suitable screw h. The offset part h of the bracket H is cut out at one side to form a groove h2. The end of the rail D is formed with a groove d' in one of its iianges and a cross-groove d2 in its circular edge. In applying the device or making the connection the bar D is moved transversely, carrying the lower part of the bracket lbelow the-groove h2 into the cut or groove d2 of the bar, while the upper portion of the part h enters the groove d of the iiange. n

found eminently satisfactory for quick application and retaining the parts in position.

A board constructed vas above described possesses the qualities of lightness, durability, and strength.

Having thus described the invention, whatV is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is#- l 1. In a game-board the combination with a surrounding frame, of a bed having its edges located below the top and out of contact with the frame whereby the bed is free to expand, transverse bars spanning ,the frame constituting the supporting means for the center ofv thebed, devices offset from and for connecting the ends of the bars to the frame,and means for loosely connecting the bars'and bed.

2. In a game-board the combination with a frame, of a bed located below the top of the frame and having its edges loose whereby the bed can expand freely, transverse cross-bars formingsupporting means'for the bed, a cushionstrip on vthe frame projecting over the space between the edges of the bed and frame, brackets for securing'the ends of the cross- The parts are closely fitted and the bars to the frame, and means loosely connecting the bed to the cross-bars.

3. In a game apparatus the combination with a frame, of a bed carried by the frame, a strengthening-bar extending across the bed above the lower edges of the frame having its ends upturnedV and secured to the inner face of the frame and means for securing the bar centrally to the central portion of the bed.

4. In a game-board the combination with a surrounding frame, of a bed located below the top of the frame and having its edges loosely fitted in grooves in the frame, cross-bars extending transversely across the frame and forming the supports for the center of the bed, brackets for connecting the cross-bars to the bed to the cross-bars.

. In a game-board the combination with a" surrounding frame, of a bed located below the top and having its edges out of contact with the frame, cross-bars spanning the frame', brackets for securing the ends of the bars'to the frame, devices for' loosely securing'the Vthe frame,`and means for loosely connecting bed to the cross-bars, and angle-brackets at the ends of the frame connected theretoand to the bed.

6. In a game-board the combination with a v frame, of a bed loosely supported in the frame so that it'may contract and expand, met'al 'girder-bars spanning the Vframe, a bracket shaped for detachably connecting the ends of the bars to the frame, and clips engaging the sides ofthe metal bars and secured to the bed.Y

7. In a game-board the combinatian with'a frame, of a bed loosely supported in the frame so that it may contract and eXpand,'-Tshapedl Y for connecting the ends of thebars to-the frame and clips engaging the' sides of the metal bars and secured to the bed. f

8. In combination with `a supporting -bar metal girder-bars spanning the frame, devices 'IOO and a side rail, of 'a connection betweenY the rail and the bar comprisingia bracket formed with an offset portion having a grooved side, and an interlocking connection between the grooved portion'of the bracket andthe end of the bar.

9. In a game-board the combination with a.l

bedl and side rail, of a supporting-bar, af

bracket having an oftset'hooked portion; and

a detachable connection between the end'of the bar and the hooked portion of the bracket,l

substantially as described. In testimony whereof I in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR R. MAcLnoD, FREDERIC W. SHAW.

aiiix my signature EDWARD T. BURRowEsI 

